Walk for Hunger approaches 50-year milestone
THE ISSUE: Project Bread's annual Walk for Hunger is May 7THE IMPACT: Organizers expect 35,000 participants will raise $2.7 million for hunger relief programs.
View ArticleMassachusetts towns ditch standard electric service to embrace green power
THE ISSUE: Some communities are boosting their use of renewable energy bypassing basic electric service to negotiate contracts with third-party generators.THE IMPACT: Two programs are running, with...
View ArticleMore Massachusetts women jumping into politics
THE ISSUE: Many Democratic women in Massachusetts say the 2016 presidential election was an impetus to become more politically active.THE IMPACT: Emerge Massachusetts, an organization dedicated to...
View ArticleBill would boost physical education requirement in Massachusetts schools
THE ISSUE: Some are calling for students to spend more time in physical education.THE IMPACT: A Senate bill, labeled unrealistic by some school administrators, would require 150 minutes per week of...
View ArticleFentanyl continues to fuel OD deaths in Massachusetts
THE ISSUE: Increasingly fueled by the drug fentanyl, the rate of fatal opioid overdoses continues to increase in Massachusetts.THE IMPACT: Statewide, there were 1,933 confirmed opioid-related deaths in...
View ArticleLead paint continues to affect thousands in Massachusetts
THE ISSUE: Lead paint continues to harm children nearly 40 years after it was banned.THE IMPACT: More than 3,500 Massachusetts children ages 5 and younger tested positive for elevated blood-lead levels.
View ArticleGov. Baker: Concert security will be upped after Manchester attack
With thousands of concert-goers expected to descend on the Boston Calling music festival this weekend, Gov. Charlie Baker said there are no current threats of venues being targeted for violence, but...
View ArticleMAP: Find out what towns will or won't allow recreational marijuana, so far
Town-by-town, city-by-city residents of Massachusetts are deciding if they want to be able to drive to the corner store to buy marijuana.State officials delayed the implementation of the law legalizing...
View ArticleShort-term housing rentals targeted for taxes and regulations in Massachusetts
THE ISSUE: The emergence of short-term rentals through websites like Airbnb has raised concerns over safety and quality of life for some policymakers.NEXT STEPS: While some communities enact local...
View ArticleNew sewer concept would make energy, fertilizer from wastewater
THE CONCEPT: A new approach to wastewater treatment would use small, local facilities to clean water, generate electricity and produce fertilizer.NEXT STEPS: The town of Littleton has appropriated...
View ArticlePromise of free college circulating in policy circles, on campaign trail
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON: The governor and mayor of Boston will make a bipartisan pitch Tuesday for a tuition-free college program available to Boston residents, but a Democrat running for governor is...
View ArticleMEMA: Start of hurricane season is a reminder to prepare
June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season which runs through Nov. 30. While historically the majority of tropical storms and hurricanes that have impacted our region occurred...
View ArticlePOLL: Massachusetts cities, states poised to lead on climate policy
THE ISSUE: Many state and municipal leaders say cities and states are poised to take the lead on climate policy.THE CAUSE: President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will withdraw the United...
View ArticlePOLL: Massachusetts cities, states poised to lead on climate policy
THE ISSUE: Many state and municipal leaders say cities and states are poised to take the lead on climate policy.THE CAUSE: President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will withdraw the United...
View ArticleMAP: Find out which Massachusetts high schools may have to change mascots
Nearly 40 public high schools in Massachusetts may have to change their mascot and/or their logo if a bill being debated on Beacon Hill passes.The bill, proposed by state Sen. Barbara L’Italien, would...
View ArticleLow-income children face summer meals gap
While nearly 300,000 Massachusetts students get free or reduced-price lunches at school, it’s often a challenge to reach them during the summer."Low-income children are really at risk for hunger and...
View ArticleMAP: Find out which Massachusetts high schools may have to change mascots
Nearly 40 public high schools in Massachusetts may have to change their mascot and/or their logo if a bill being debated on Beacon Hill passes.The bill, proposed by state Sen. Barbara L’Italien, would...
View ArticleHigher tax rate, new opt-out method in pot law rewrite, State House sources say
Marijuana sales would be taxed at a maximum rate of 18.75 percent under legislation being developed by the House in preparation for a Thursday vote that would also alter the oversight and local control...
View ArticleUPDATED: Marijuana law rewrite criticized, DeLeo postpones debate (with...
House leadership-backed legislation overhauling the marijuana law approved by voters last year came under fire from multiple sides June 14, and by the end of the day, Speaker Robert DeLeo opted to push...
View ArticleUPDATED: 'Millionaire tax' makes it to the 2018 ballot (with interactive map)
For the second year in a row, Massachusetts lawmakers June 14 endorsed a proposal to extract an estimated $2 billion from the state's roughly 20,000 highest earners, setting up a 2018 ballot question...
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